Process for finishing iron and steel plates



C. WILLIAMS.

PROCESS FOR FINISHING IRON AND STEEL PL Patented June 8, 1920.

UNITED STATES CHARLIE WILLIAMS,.

PATENT OFFICE.

OF GRANITE CITY, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-THIRD TO NELS NELSON, F GRANITE CITY, ILLINOIS.

PROCESS FOR FINIS-I-IING mow AND STEEL PLATES.

To all whom it may concern: I

Be it known that I, CHARLIE WILLIAMS, a citizen of the'United States, residing at Granite City, Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in processes for Finishing Iron and Steel Plates, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertain's to make and use the same. 7

This invention .relates to the manufacture of iron and steel plates. 7

The main object of my invention is to provide a process by which black pickled plates of iron and steel can be converted into plates that have the desirable characteristics and appearance of Russia iron, namely, a rustresistant surface that will not crack easily and is of blue or purplish color.

Another object is to provide a novel process for producing a wav or mottled surface on a rolled plate. ther objects and desirable features of my invention will be hereinafter pointed out.

The figure of the drawings is a sectional view, illustrating one form of apparatus that can be used in the final step of my process.

My process, briefly described, consists in washing pickled plates of iron or steel wlth a soapy solution, rinsing the plates,-dry1ng them and boxing them in a dry state, then annealing the plates and treating them with sulfurous fumes, such as the fumes produced from sulfur or coke, then subjecting the'plates to the action of a medium which tends to oxidize. the plates, such, for example, asdry air and thereafter cold rolling the plates so as to give them a high polish. The final step of the process consists in forming slight indentations in the sur-- faces of the plates and then passing the plates between rolls to flatten or level the indentations, and thus impart a wavy or mottled effectto the plates.

In practising my process the plates are first pickled in any preferred manner, and

thereafter are washed with a hot solution of soap, salsoda or borax, preferably by immersing the plates in the washing solution after the plates have been removed from the pickling bath, it being preferable to have the washing solution at a temperature near the boiling point. The washing solution can vary but I have found that excellent results Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed June 9, 1919.

Patented June 8, 1920.

Serial No. 302,925.

can be obtainedwhen the plates are washed in a solution composed of approximately 200 gallons of water and approximately 15 lbs. of common laundry soap. Or, if desired, a solution consisting of approximately 200 gallons of water, 10 lbs. of soap and 5 lbs. of borax or salsoda can be used. Af-

ter being washed with the hot,- soapy .solution the plates are thoroughly rinsed preferably 1n clear water and are then dried 1n any preferred manner, preferably by passlng the plates between felt rolls. The plates are then boxed or formed into bundles and annealed. During the annealing operation the plates are Subjected to'the actlon of fumes of sulfur orcoke, preferably by placing sulfur or coke in the annealing boxes. After the plates have been annealed and while they are still hot they are subjected toa blast of hot dry air which tends to oxidize the plates. Finally, the plates are given a high polish by passing them through high speed cold rolls, the operations above referred to causing the plates ing particles of granular material such as sawdust, bran or the like between the plate and the steel roll so as to cause said particles to form slight indentations in one surface of the plate. The other surface of the plate is thereafter treated in a similar manner, and finally, the plate is fed between a pair of steel rolls which flatten or level the indentations in the plate and impart a wavy or mottled appearance to the plate. Prior to the operation of passing the plates between the finishing rolls, the particles of sawdust,

bran or the like are removed from the plate in any preferred manner, as, for example, by passing each plate through a ,machine equipped with revolving brushes. Various forms of apparatus may be used for obtaining the wavy vor mottled finish just described, such, for example, as an apparatus of'the kind illustrated in the drawing, which is provided with a steel roll 1 that cooperates with a wood roll 2, a means 3 for feeding bran or other suitable material an between the plate 8 and the steel roll 1, a pair of steel finishing rolls 4 through which the,

plate is subsequently passed so as to flatten or level the indentations formedin the plate and a pair'of revolving brushes 5 through which the plate 8 passes before entering the finishing rolls 4 so asto cause the particles of bran or the like to be removed from the surface of the plate.

The above described process of treating pickled plates of iron or steel not only changes the appearance of the plates and produces a finish thereon that is substantially the same as Russia iron, but it also produces metal plates that are practically as durable as Russia iron, due to the fact that the plates have a rust-resistant finish that is not liable to crack or scale.

Having thus described my invention; what I claim as newand desire to secureby Letters Patent, is:

l. A process for'finishingpickled plates, characterized by washing the plates with a soapy solution after they have been removed from the pickling bath, rinsing the plates, then annealing the plates in the presence of "sulfurous fumes, subjecting the plates to the action of 'dry air after the annealing.

operation,-and finally cold rolling theplates so as to give them a high polish.

2. A process for finishing pickled plates, characterized by washing the plates with a soapy solution after they have beenremoved 4 from the pickling bath, rinsing the plates, drying them and boxing them in a dry condition, thereafter-annealing the plates and treating them with sulfurous fumes during the annealing operation, subjecting the plates to the action of dry air while they 4. A process" for finishing metal plates,

characterized by forming slight indentations in the opposite faces of a plate by passing the plate between rolls and causing the rolls to press small particles into the surfaces of the plate, and thereafter passing the plate between hard rolls which flatten or level the indentations in the plate.

'5. A process for finishing metal plates, characterized by washing pickled plates with a soapy solution, rinsing the plates, annealing the plates in the presence of sulfurous fumes, thereafter subjecting the plates to the action of a medium which tends to oxidize the surface of same, and finally passing the plates between high speed cold rolls so as to impart a high polish to the plates.

CHARLIE WILLIAMS. 

